Reviews of Prog Rock, Classical Music, Art Rock and Jazz
Wilson's most eclectic album to date is 'cinema for the ears' ***** Steven Wilson has often said he would like to write a film score. He even wrote a screenplay with the film maker Mike Bennion, and they tried for a while to get the film made. When it became clear this probably wouldn't happen, …
Continue reading "The Harmony Codex by Steven Wilson – Album Review"
The first in a new series of reviews of individual tracks that are well worth a listen The core of the modestly-named prog rock band Hats Off Gentlemen it's Adequate consists of Malcolm Galloway (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer) and Mark Gatland (bass, backing vocals, keyboards and co-producer). Burn the World is the first single from …
Continue reading "Off the Beaten Track # 1: Burn the World by Hats off Gentlemen It’s Adequate"
An updated e-book version of my book On Track ... Porcupine Tree, a detailed analysis of every track by Porcupine Tree, is now available.
Thursday 29 June 2023 Castlefield Bowl, Manchester **** You wait 12 years for a Train... then two come at once For 12 years between their gig at the Royal Albert Hall in London in October 2010 and their next London gig at Wembley Arena in November 2022 it appeared that Porcupine Tree would never play …
Continue reading "Porcupine Tree – Live Review (Manchester)"
Saturday 17 June 2023 O2 Apollo, Manchester **** Joyful return of the band after a decade away In 2011, talking to Grant Moon of Prog about his second, jazz-infused, solo album Grace for Drowning, Steven Wilson said it’s easy to forget the role jazz played in the birth of prog rock, ‘it was when pop …
**** New 5.1 mix places the listener in the middle of a dystopian farmyard. Pink Floyd recorded Animals in 1976 and it was released early the following year. It sits uncomfortably in the band's catalogue, preceded by the pristine, aching absences of Wish You Were Here and followed by the sprawling psychodrama of The Wall. …
Continue reading "Animals by Pink Floyd (2018 Surround Sound Remix) – Album Review"
Ten classic tracks from the early albums from On The Sunday of Life (1992) to Stupid Dream (1999) In November 2022, Porcupine Tree made a triumphant return to London to play live at London Arena in front of over 12,000 fans after a hiatus of over twelve years. The event was described by The Times …
Continue reading "Porcupine Tree: the Best Tracks from The First Five Albums"
Friday 18 November 2022 Eventim Apollo, London **** Swedish prog metal band celebrate three decades of music with audience choices A work colleague was bemused when I told her I was going to London on Friday to see a prog metal band, 'didn't you do that last week?' she said. I explained that I had …
***** Porcupine Tree return after 12 years' hiatus with their new album which reached number 2 in the UK charts Pink Floyd once satirised the music industry executive who said, 'You gotta get an album out/You owe it to the people' (Have a Cigar from their 1975 album Wish You Were Here). When Porcupine Tree …
Continue reading "Closure/Continuation by Porcupine Tree – Album Review"
Ms Amy Birks is an award-winning vocalist and songwriter, and also produces and arranges her own music. She previously sang with the acclaimed band Beatrix Players, and she released her first solo album All That I am & All That I Was in 2020. Now she returns with her new album In Our Souls. In …